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Melbourne Tourist Attractions - the locals like them too

The capital of Victoria is one of the most cultured and liveable cities in the world. Melbourne tourist attractions are cosmopolitan and friendly at the same time.

Central Melbourne

The city is bounded by the Yarra River on one side and the Docklands on the other. Melbourne's streets form a compact grid that are easy to navigate - walking is usually possible, but there's also a free tram that circles the city that you can get on and off as you please.

The Central Business District (CBD) - what we call central Melbourne, is the centre of politics, commerce, business, culture, arts and shopping. But there's more to the CBD than that.

Architecture

See the amazing architecture of:

Flinders Street Station, corner Flinders and Swanston Streets
Southern Cross Station, Spencer Street (see picture below, taken by Adselwood)

St Paul's Anglican Cathedral, corner Flinders and Swanston Streets
Tasma Terrace, Parliament Place, East Melbourne
Federation Square, corner Flinders and Swanston Streets
Melbourne Town Hall, Swanston Street
Parliament House, Spring Street
ANZ Bank Building, Collins Street

Parks

Relax in one of Melbourne's beautiful gardens:

Birrarung Marr - riverside parkland beside the Yarra, opposite Flinders Street Station
Fitzroy Gardens, across the Treasury Gardens (see picture of conservatory below, taken by Wilson Afonso)

Flagstaff Gardens, corner William and La Trobe Streets
Treasury Gardens, corner Flinders and Spring Streets
Exhibition Gardens, corner Victoria and Rathdowne Streets

Free Tram

Take the free tram around the city for a quick and interesting city tour. These trams have guides who can give you great information.

Starting at Flinders Street, the tram travels to Harbour Esplanade, Latrobe Street, Victoria Street, Nicholson Street, Spring Street and back to Flinders Street. It travels in the opposite direction too.

Museums and Galleries

Melbourne has many interesting museums:

Melbourne Museum, 11 Nicholson St, Carlton
Immigration Museum (see where we all came from), 400 Flinders Street
Melbourne Aquarium, Kings Way
State Library of Victoria, corner Swanston and La Trobe Streets
Old Melbourne Gaol, Russell Street (near La Trobe Street)
Chinese Museum, Little Bourke Street
Ian Potter Gallery of Victoria, Federation Square

Shopping

Melbourne is the shopping capital of Australia. In addition to shops lining city streets, don't miss:

Bourke Street Mall
Melbourne Central, corner Swanston and La Trobe Streets
Collins Place, Collins Street
Block Arcade, Collins Street (picture below, taken by Doogsta)

Royal Arcade, Bourke Street
QV Centre, corner Swanston and Lonsdale Streets

South of the Yarra

Free entertainment

Buskers provide street entertainment, mainly in the Bourke Street Mall and in Southbank, along the river. Some are funny, some are spectacular, some are musical, most are great entertainment and add to the cultural life of Melbourne.

This picture is of George Kamikawa, a regular Bourke Street busker.

Across the river are vibrant shopping precincts, cafes and cultural centres: